Apparatus for forming pipe-cores.



N0. 746.779. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903. H. L. BELL & G. 0. SWEITZER.APPARATUS FOR FORMING PIPE CORES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1903.

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No. 746,779. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1.903. H. L. BELL & G. O. SWEITZER.APPARATUS FOR FORMINGv PIPE GORP-S.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1903.

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RNWT \NNNI No. 746,779. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

H. L. BELL & c. 0. SWEITZER. APPARATUS FOR FORMING PIPE 0035s.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR FORlVl'lNGPlPE-CORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,779, dated December15, 1903. Application filed June 30 1903. Serial No. 168,715. (Nomodel.)

To alt wh0m it may concern: p

Be it knowu that we, HARRY L. BELLand CHARLES C. SWEITZER, both ofMishawaka, St. Joseph county, Indiana,haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Forming Pipe-Cores; and we herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of thisspecification.

This invention is an improved machine for making cores for use incasting hollow metallic bodies, such as pipes, columns, 850.; and theobject of the present invention is to produce a machine which can beused to make cores of various shapes and sizes, with or without holes orpassages for ventilating purposes or for reception of stifiening-rods,the holes extending throughout the length of the cores, if desired. p

. The invention, in brief, comprises a feedhopper, below which is aremovable cylindercasting, to which is attached a removable core-formeradapted to form a core of a cer-' tain form and dimension and which canbe replaced by other core-formers to produce different sizes or forms ofcores. In rear of the cylinder are a series of reciprocating pitmen,preferably operated by eccentrics on a common shaft, but set so that thepitmen will complete their strokes in succession rather thansimultaneously, and to the inner ends of said pitmen are detachablysecured changeable plungers, which are provided in sets of differentsizesto suit the difierent sizes of cylinder-castings in which theplungers operate to compress the sand or core-forming material fed fromthe hopper. Each set of plungers together conform to the shape of thechamber in the'cylinderin which they operate. Statiouary or movable rodsare attached to or arranged between the plungers parallel with the lineof reciprocation thereof and project into the core-former beyond theinner limit of the stroke of the plungers, said rods form ing thevent-openings in the core at desired points. Suitable means are providedfor operatiugthe moving parts, and cores of any given size and form incross-section can be readily made on the machine with rapidity and anylength desired, the product of the machine being a core of any desiredcrosssection conformable to the interior cross-section of thecore-former employed.

, While a single plunger might be advantageously usediu the machine, weprefer multiple plungers, for the reason that less power is required intamping or packing the core tions constituting the present invention andfor which protection is desired are summarized in the claims followingthe description of the machine illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings,which shows a practical embodimeut of our inventionin the best form now known to us and which we will now describe indetail.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section there through. Fig. 3is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation. Fig. 5 is a front view of onecylinder-casting detached. Fig. '6 is a detail rear view of theplungers, showing their connections to the pitmen. Fig. 7 is a detailfront view of a smaller cylindercasting.- Fig. 8 is a detail side Viewof a smaller plunger adapted to operate in the cylinder shown in Fig. 7.Fig. 9 is a detail 'view of a core produced by the machine shown inFigs. 1 to 4..

The hopper A is supported on standards B B, attached to the base-plateC, near one end thereof, said standards having bearings c? on theirupper ends for the shaft 19, which carries agitators B within thehopper, adapted to feed down the material therein. The shaft 12 has asprocket b on one end, driven by a'chain b from a sprocket b on the mainshaft D, which is journaled in standards 0, rising from base 0 at theend opposite standards B.

Between the standards B, the bottom of hopper A, and base 0 is placed acylinder, consisting of a casting having a through passage or chamber E,whose internal diameter and configuration conforms to theexternaldiameter and configuration in cross-section of the core to be formed. Inthe top of the casting and communicating with chamber E is afeed-opening E, which communicates with the outlet of the hopper A andreceives the material fed therefrom. On the top and front side of saidcasting is a short transverse flange E which fits into acorrespondingrecess A in the lower front side of the hopper. In the baseof said casting is a longitudinal slot E, which fits over alongitudinally-disposed rib O on the base 0. Also in the base of thecasting is a transverse slot E, which when the casting is in positionbeneath the hopper coincides with a notch C in rib O and a locking-bar Ocan then he slipped into and through slot E and notch 0 locking thecylinder securely in position, as is evident from the drawings. Thestandards B have apertures B in their bases to'accommodate the bar 0 andassist in retaining it in position. In the front end of the cylinder,concentric with chamber E, is an annular shoulder or recess e, adaptedto receive an annular fiangefon a collar F, attached to the inner end ofthe former F. This collar has diametrically opposite lugs f projectingradially therefrom and adapted to be engaged by retainers 6', attachedto swinging arms 6 hinged to the opposite sides of the cylindercasting,as shown at 6 After the flangef is fitted into recess e and lugsf'engaged by retainers e the tube F is firmly held in axial alinement withand forms a continuation of chamber E. Said tube F corresponds ininternal diameter, size, and contour w iththe' external form of the coreto be made, tube F practically forming a long core former or shaper.

From what has been stated it will be obvious that the cylinder andcore-formers are removable from the machine, and in practice we proposeto provide each machine with a set of core-formers corresponding to theVarious sizes and shapes of cores which it is proposed to manufacture.

Suitable means for packing the material into the core-formers as it isfed from the hop; per is provided, and we preferably employ thefollowing-described mechanism for packing the material into thecore-formers. Intermediate the standards B and O are two standards c,which stand transversely of the base and are provided in their upperends with apertures or bearings o for a plurality of reciprocatorypitmen G, of which three are shown, arranged parallel and extendinglongitudinally of the base and in alinement With the chamber E and tubeF. The pitmen G are respectively connected at their rear ends toeccentric-straps d, engaged with eccentrics 01, fast to shaft D,saideccentrics being preferably set at dilferent degrees on the shaft,so that when the latter is rotated the several pitmen will bereciprocated together, but in successive order. Secured to the inner endof each shaft G is a plunger g, and in a machine having three shafts, asshown, we preferably make each plunger in the form of a third segment ofa cylinder, so that when arranged in alinement and juxtaposition on the'ends of shafts G the plungers together form a cylinder corresponding inexterior size and shape to the internal size and form of the chamber Ein the cylinder, which the three plungers together fit and fill as oneplunger would do. In order to accommodate the machine to difierent sizesof cylinders, plungers must be provided of different sizes andchangeable with the cylinders, so when a cylinder is changedproperly-sized plungers may be placed in the machine to coact therewith.The plungers are therefore preferably made detachable from the pitmen,and, as shown, are provided with sockets g in their rear ends to receivethe forward ends of the pitmen and are locked to the pitmen by pivotedcatches 9 which engage slots or notches G in the pitmen, as indicated inthe drawings. Any other desired means for detachably connecting theplungers to the pitmen may be employed. We do not restrict ourselves tothe employment of three plungers. Two or more than three may be used.The shaft D is provided with a pulley D, by which it may be driven bybelting from any suitable prime mover or transmission device.

To form vents or openings in the cores, one or more rods may be employedextending into the chamber E parallel with the plungers. These rods maybe stationary and affixed to part of the machine in rear of theplungers, which are suitably chambered or grooved to allow them toreciprocate by or on the rods, or

invention, which, We repeat, is not limited to the specific forms orconstructions of parts shown. Changes therein within the scope of ourinvention can be readily suggested by an experienced mechanician.

One essential feature of the invention is removable interchangeablecore-formers, an other a plurality of plungers Working in the cylinders,and another the combination of these two principal features in onemachine.

In the machine shown the operation is briefly as follows: A cylinder ofthe desired size is secured in place beneath the hopper, then the propercore-former tube is attached thereto, the proper relative plungers arenext placed on pitmen G, and the hopper supplied with core-formingmaterial. 7 I applied to shaft D, the plungers are reciprocated, and'thematerial fed into the cylinder is pushed outward and packed in theformer E by the plungers, which act successively upon different portionsof the material in the chamber E. (If desired, a filler-plug may be.

placed in the former-tube F or chamber E at the beginning of theoperation to facilitate the formation of the core and proper compactnessthereof.) As the core increases in length it is gradually projected fromthe tube F and may be ejected therefrom in any desired length upon asuitable receiver or carrier. (Not shown.) The core S may be cut intolengths desired before drying and then baked. When the rod H is used, acentral hole or vent-opening s will be formed in the core, and by usingrods h on the several plungers other holes 3' will be formed in thecore. These holes extend longitudinally thereof and may be used forventing purposes to facilitate the drying of the core, or rods or barscan be slipped in the holes to'stiifen it, as is desirable in longcores. When another size of core is to be made, the machine is stopped,the core-former removed and replaced by a'core-former of the desiredsize, and the core-making operation repeated, as described.

The size of the cores that may be produced with this machine with anyone of the cylinders is only limited by the strength or capacity of theplungers. For example, in the three cylinders illustrated by thedrawings fortytwo different sizes of cores of all shapes can beproduced. A core may be made with a coreformer smaller than the chamberin the cylinder, or we may make a core larger than the chamber in thecylinder, and that this core-.

former, as we term it, is detachable and may be made of any shape orsize. A number of difierent sizes of cores can be made with ourcylinder, only the core-former should not be so large that it exceedsthe capacity of the cylinder or so small that the plunger cannoteffectually work the material out of the cylinder. The casting directlyunder the hopper and the plungers does not have to be removed, exceptwhen making cores too large or too small for the efiective use of thatparticular cylinder.

Having thus described our invention, What we therefore claim as new, anddesire to se- Power being gers all working within and togetherconforming to the contour of the chamber, means for operating theplungers in succession, and a changeable core-former attached to saidchamber, and adapted to shape the core, substantially as described.

3. In a core-forming machine, ahopper, and a changeable chamber; withreciprocating pitmen, and changeable plungers attached to said pitmenand together operating in said chamber, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a hopper, a changeable cylinder, a changeablecore-former attached to said cylinder, a changeable plunger operating insaid cylinder, and means for operating said plunger.

5. In a core-formingmachine, a hopper, a

chamber thereunder, a tubular core-former attached to said chamber, aseries of reciproeating pitmen in rear of said chamber, and

segmental plungers attached to said pitmen.

and all operating within said chamber in succession, for the purpose andsubstantially as described. I

6. In combination, a hopper, a changeable chamber thereunder, achangeable core-tube attached to said chamber, a series of reciprocatingpitmen in rear of said chamber, and changeable plungers attached to saidpitmen and all operating in said chamber, for the purpose andsubstantially as described.

7. In combination, a cylindricalcbamber, a plurality of segmental-shapedplungers operatin gin said chamber and together conforming to thecontour thereof; vent-forming devices in said chamber, and means foroperating the plungers in succession, substantially as described.

8. In a core-forming machine, a hopper, a

casting below the hopper having a horizontal chamber, afeed-openingcommunicating with the hopper, and setting and locking slotsin its base; with means for locking the casting in position.

9. In combination, a hopper, a removable casting thereunder, having achamber, a rib on top engaging a recess in the base of the hopper, afeed-inlet communicating with the hopper, and longitudinal andtransverse slots in its base, with a centering-rib and lockingbarrespectively engaging said slots to retain the casting in place.

10. In combination, a hopper, a removable casting thereunder having achamber, a rib on top engaging a recess in the base of the hopper, afeed-inlet communicating with the hopper, and longitudinal andtransverse slots inits base; with a centering-rib and lockingbarrespectively engaging said slots to retain the casting in place, aseries of reciprocating pitmen, plungers on the ends of said pitmenoperating in said chamber and together conforming to the contourthereof; and means for operating said plnngers, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a core-forming machine, the combination of a removable castinghaving a chamher, and a feed-inlet above said chamber, and swinging,locking-arms on the sides of the casting with a core-former detachablyfitted to the outer end of said chamber; having lugs to engage thelocking-arms for fastening the core-former to said casting, afeed-hopper above the chamber; and means for packing the material insaid chamber.

12. In a core-forming machine, the combination of the hopper, aremovable casting below the hopper having a horizontal chamber, afeed-opening in its top communicating with the hopper, and setting andlocking slots in its base; with means for locking the casting inposition, a series of plungers operating in said chamber; and means foroperating said plungers in succession.

13. In combination, a hopper, a removable casting thereunder having achamber, a feedinlet communicating with the hopper, and longitudinal andtransverse slots in its base; with a centering-rib and locking-barengaging said slots to retain the former in place, a core-formerconnected to the outer side of said casting; and means for detachablyfastening said tube in place, substantially as described.

14. In combination, a hopper, a removable casting thereunder having achamber, a feedinlet communicating with the hopper, and longitudinal andtransverse slots in its base; acentering-rib and locking-barengagingsaid slots to retain the former in place, a coreformer connected to theouter side of said casting; and means for detachably fastening said tubein place, with a series of reciprocating pitmen, plungers on the ends ofsaid pitmen operating in said chamber and together conforming to thecontour thereof; and means for operating said plungers in succession;substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we afii'x oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY L. BELL. CHARLES C. SWEITZER. In presence 'of JAS. E. TALBOT,ARCHD. G. GRAHAM.

